Over 20 years of writing about my club in Barnet matchday programmes, which sold to about 500 souls on a good day, now with this Blog Site everyone can read my ramblings, memories, interviews, experiences, features, guides to away grounds and pure love of everything Barnet Football Club. Enjoy and digest and tell your friends.
Reckless - Potters Bar March 2014.
Oh Yes, thank you to"Al" without whom.......that is all

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RECKLESS GUIDE TO LEYTON ORIENT

LEYTON ORIENT

Sky Bet League 2Saturday 8th August 2015

Kick Off 3.00 pm

Stadium
The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane
Road, Leyton, E10 5NF

Telephone
0871
310 1881

Club
Colours Red White and Black

Nickname
The O's

Key
Personnel

No
introduction needed really for Ian Hendon who joined the O's in May -
always will be a Barnet Football Club Icon. Played over 130 games for
Orient early in his career before extended spells with Notts Co,
Northampton, Sheffield Wednesday and ourselves. Managerial experience
at Barnet for two seasons before a very brief stint at Dover Athletic
and was Sam Allardyce's right hand man at West Ham for four seasons.

Brief
Directions by Road

The ground is situated
off the Leyton High Road and the journey is very stop and start from
whichever direction you travel. Yet from the North Circular Road
(A406) by turning right at what is traditionally known as the Crooked
Billet Roundabout it is pretty straight forward. From the A406,
having passed under and over the Great Cambridge roundabout and
Silver Street, turn south onto the A112 Chingford Road signposted
Walthamstow and Leyton. Go straight over at the A503 junction where
the road becomes Hoe Street. Pass Walthamstow Central Station and
carry straight on into Leyton High Road passing Leyton Midland Road
Station. After another mile (still A112) the ground is accessible
from side roads on your right. Please note all these access roads are
all very “British”, Balmoral, Windsor, Buckingham etc. Buses 58,
69, 97 and 158 run along Leyton High Road.

Car
Parking

There is only street
parking available in the immediate vicinity and even this is fairly
restricted.

Directions
by Train

The nearest tube
station is Leyton (about a 1/2 of a mile away) which is on the
Central Line (Red). Out of the station and turn right down Leyton
High Road. On the other side of the road you will eventually find
Coronation Gardens on your left and the floodlights of the ground can
be clearly seen behind them. Take the next left into Buckingham Road
for the ground.

Eating
and Drinking Locally

The
social club allows visiting fans in reasonable numbers and a charge
of £1.00 is made on entry. It can be found behind the new West Stand
on Oliver Road. The club recommends the Coach & Horses on Leyton
High Road or the Northcote
on Grove Green Road.

Ground
Description

The
ground has had a major facelift in the last decade and since our
first visit in the League in September 1993 the only part still
basically unaltered is the main East Stand. It was allegedly
purchased from Mitcham Greyhound Stadium, was erected in 1956 and
holds around 3,500. Notice the splendid centre roof gable which
allegedly once held the dog track photo finish equipment. We will be
allocated a section in this stand for the afternoon. To its left is
the Tommy Johnson South Stand which seats around 1,400 and this
replaced the original open away terrace. Opposite the main stand is
the West Stand. It replaced the original stand which started life was
a popular covered terrace which was made all-seated in the 1990’s.
The new structure was built in September 2006. It is as it appears,
an office block flanked by residential apartments with a skirt of
seating for 2,800. It offers fantastic corporate facilities but is a
perfect example of us saying goodbye to football ground character and
welcome efficiency with commerce. The North Stand which resembles
the Tommy Johnson Stand completes the picture.

Admission
Prices

East
Stand: Adults £23 Concessions £15

Previous
Meetings and Memories

Our
last visit was in October 2012 and a 1-0 defeat in a Johnson Paint
Trophy tie. On the brighter side of life two Division 3 away games
stand out - firstly a fantastic 3-3 draw in 1996, the Bees goals
coming from Sean Devine 2 and Lee Hodges and secondly the following
year when a very rare Linvoy Primus goal won it for Barnet in front
of over 4,000 spectators. However the best is left to last as is
customary. Amajestic
two goal Dougie Freedman performance and two quality finishes by Mark
Cooper doesn’t even get close to telling the whole story of the
1994 1st round 1st leg Coca Cola Cup tie at Underhill, it ranks as
one of the greatest ever performances by a Barnet team in my opinion.

Dougie Freedman and Mark Cooper

Celebrity
Watch

A luverly jubberly
cockney cavalcade for your autograph books! Jonathan Woss, Graham
Gooch, Fanny Craddock, Alfred Hitchcock, David Bailey and Angela
Landsbury all are associated with the area. Comedian Bob Mills and
musician Andrew Lloyd Webber are regular visitors to the ground as is
one my best and nicest customers, Nick Sonenfeld and his family.